Bits and Morsels

"Bits and Morsels" by Jordana Z, is an ongoing collection of information from the world of the foodies and foodblogs:

Bruni’s ego is definitely not bruised. Frank Bruni is the restaurant critic for the New York Times and everyone knows his reviews can make or break a restaurant. The “Bruni Effect,” a piece which ran in the New York Observer, goes into detail about the aftermaths of some of his reviews of the New York Times’ Frank Bruni. While Mr. Bruni is definitely very talented, there is a problem with one reviewer having so much clout, especially if there is no middle ground with that reviewer. Frank Bruni either loves your restaurant or has an enormous grudge against it. Maybe he just has very high standards. Maybe. [New York Observer]

Bruni Beef. Keith McNally, who runs some of the best restaurants in New York, has a major beef with Bruni. Earlier this week he wrote an open letter to Eater, pointing out that Frank Bruni is sexist. McNally’s newest eatery, Morandi, received a scathing one-star review. McNally believes that this was due to the fact its chef Jody Williams is, you guessed it, a woman. Decide for yourself. [Eater] & [Gridskipper]

Ordering in just got healthier. Mindful Menus is a guide book to eating right when ordering in. The guide lists nutritional information for most menu items. It breaks down each menu into categories of what you should order and should rarely order. They have guides for the Upper East and Upper West Sides, and more neighborhoods are in the works. [The Daily News] & [FoodTrainers]

Viand Coffee Shop and its delicious baklava

This delight is not so tasti. Pinkberry, the “ frozen yogurt” chain, has a cult-like following. People refer to Pinkberry as Crackberry because it’s just that addictive. However, Pinkberry is being sued for misleading customers into thinking that they are selling yogurt, when they are selling something different. Turns out the frozen mixture is not yogurt but some type of powder with milk or water, and therefore does not have the active bacterial cultures that make yogurt "healthy." [Defamer.com]
Instead of going to Grace’s for your salad, try to grow your own. This week the New York Times discusses the perks of using a salad table (a salad table is a window box on wheels) to grow your own produce. It’s easier to garden because its elevated, keeps critters out, and you can roll it inside if the weather is rotten. I'm going to give it a shot and report back on it. [The New York Times]
The Viand on Madison Avenue is a gem in more ways than one. It's located smack in between Barney’s and Nello’s and has been in business for over thirty years. The atmosphere is homey and the food is like good home cooking for breakfast, lunch, and dinner (when it becomes a hot spot). The menu ranges from the best turkey in the city to eggs at any hour. The crowd is a blend of nearby hotel guests, shoppers at Barneys, and neighborhood folks. Just don’t go expecting diner prices, remember, it’s still Madison Avenue.
Till we eat again,
Jordana